Comment · Tue, June 13, 2017 · Ceretropic & Nootropics Depot
Nootropics Depot asking for a lot of personal information just to make a purchase...
Original post in this thread
oompa_loompa0 · 44 points
I am trying to make my first purchase with Nootropics Depot. As you get 10% off as a first purchaser I decided I would stock up - to the amount of about $390 USD. I get this email a few days later, about noon'ish:
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Thanks for your order! We have received payment on your order, however, our fraud protection software has flagged the order due to a recent amount of fraud. Because this is your first large order with us, our fraud prevention requires another step of verification. Typically this verification is handled by getting a scan of your identification, credit card used (you may redact all but the last four digits), and a copy of a utility bill that verifies your billing address. Once we have this information, we will then be able to approve this purchase, and we will not need to verify future orders.
If we do not receive a response regarding the verification of your order by the end of the day, we will unfortunately have to cancel your order. Sorry for any inconvenience.
You may use this secure form to send us your proof of identification for this order:
http://nootropicsdepot.com/payment-verification/
Once you have submitted the necessary documents, please let us kn…
What they were answering
fullofbones · 4 points
This seems really strange to me. You have no control over your customers, really. Literally any company could fall prey to this. Hell, a malicious group could easily just use it as a brick-and-mortar ransom/DDOS.
"We'll have a network of automated or otherwise sympathetic agents start defrauding you until you go out of business."
To the tune of $100k? And nobody can stop it? No criminal or FBI investigation? You just have to put up with it, or go out of business? That's not just a broken system, it's practically encouraging this kind of behavior as there's no disincentive.
If this is your last processor, I fully expect ND to go out of business. You will _never_ possibly vet every potential fraudulent source. Eventually enough will get through, and you'll be dropped. Interesting that's how things work now.
u/MisterYouAreSoDumb · Ceretropic & Nootropics Depot
Anyone could fall prey to a number of things, that's true. With what I have learned over the last few years, I can think of half a dozen ways to shut a company down. It's more precarious than anyone even realizes. I've also spoken to countless other business owners that have dealt with similar things. It's not uncommon in multiple industries. I don't even publicly talk about the legal extortion we have dealt with. That's a whole other bullshit side of things that has really opened my eyes to how fucked our system is.